by Laura Levine/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris, Bergen & Passaic

Friday October 03, 2008, 11:09 AM

Can simply putting on a pair of sneakers improve a child's chance at reaching his potential?

YES, if you put on those sneakers to join Big Brothers Big Sisters Morris, Bergen & Passaic's Walk for Kids Sake on Sunday, October 26 at the Mac Cali Business Center, 1 Campus Drive, Parsippany. Registration begins at 9 AM; the walk begins at 10:15 AM. Registration is easy and can be done on-line at www.walkforkidssake.org

Tuesday July 15, 2008, 1:11 PM

Children are thriving in communities all across America thanks to the efforts of Big Brothers Big Sisters, which matches them with caring adults with whom they can spend time doing activities they both enjoy.

The success of these relationships comes from the cooperation of five partners working together - the Big and Little to foster the friendship, the parent to allow the child to participate, Big Brothers Big Sisters' staff who screen and train the volunteers and make and nurture the matches, and the donor whose monetary gift makes it all possible.

Monday June 30, 2008, 5:00 AM

It's axiomatic that prevention is better than rehabilitation - cheaper, safer, better. That's why the leaders of Big Brother Big Sister were confused - and distressed - by the slashed funding we suffered in the state budget that passed this week.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), a nonprofit national mentoring organization, pairs the state's most vulnerable youngsters with caring adults who guide them away from drugs, alcohol and violence, help them to excel in school, and teach them to view the future with optimism.

For the past four years, we have received a state grant of $700,000 to help fund our efforts - a paltry expense compared to the astronomical costs to the state when children fall victim to the truancy, addictions, gang involvement and premature parenthood from which we help protect them. Of the $1,000 to $2,000 we spend on each child every year, approximately $150 comes from the state - a pittance compared to the roughly $40,000 it costs per year to keep a child in the juvenile justice system.

But in the budget that passed this week, the state entirely eliminated our grant. As a result, the 12 local Big Brother Big Sister agencies operating in New Jersey will not be able to serve all of the children who need us.

During his moving acceptance speech, this year's honoree Richard W. Davidson, President and COO of Coldwell Banker Commercial, stood alongside his Little Brother Robbie, who stole the show with his oversized hat.

The Gold Standard award recognizes Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies that have demonstrated pace setting performance throughout the year. Agencies that have shown a revenues growth of 10 percent or more, a 10 percent increase in the number of children served in mentoring relationships, matches, and that meet a quality standard are considered to be top performing.

Wednesday April 09, 2008, 12:36 PM

Laura LevineThe American Eagle team supporting Bowl for Kids Sake.

On a cool damp afternoon, last Sunday, the mood inside Plaza Lanes, Madison was anything but dreary! Close to 300 bowlers, some novices, some experts bowled their hearts out to raise money for a very important cause and everyone had a fabulous time in the process.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Morris, Bergen and Passaic was recently recognized as being a Big Brother Big Sister Gold Standard Award agency in 2007, selected for being one of the very best performers in revenue, children served, and quality from almost 400 agencies nation-wide.

This success comes as a result of five partners working together, the Big and the Little to foster the relationship, the parent to support and allow the child to participate, BBBS board and staff who run the organization and make and nurture the matches, and of course, the donor whose monetary gift is the lifeblood of the organization.

The impact of all of these essential components was clearly evident at Bowl for Kids Sake when Bigs and Littles, board members, staff, parents and corporate sponsors bowled side-by-side in the spirit of giving and friendship.

Tuesday April 01, 2008, 10:58 AM

Like any business in the profit-sector, a nonprofit evolves in much the same way, using a strategic process. It begins with a vision or mission to serve an observed need, followed by careful analysis of goals and objectives to satisfy that need.

Intense preparation gets under way to prepare, educate, and develop best strategies, tactics, tools, techniques and measurement standards. Experts in the field are hired and trained. Investment is made in office space, equipment and of course, marketing, which is the communication means to the outside world.